Connecticut housing program wins national award

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The program helps homeless families and individuals get into affordable housing (defined as less than one-third of the tenant’s income). It also helps them navigate government social-service agencies, enroll their children in public schools, assist with employment readiness and job retention, and even help them furnish their new homes. Because the program targets people with a mental and physical illness (which is often the trigger for the loss of a home), case workers also make sure their clients receive needed health care.

Since 2001 the program has created more than 400 new households in 25 communities for formerly homeless adults and families. Two-thirds of the program’s tenants have remained in their new homes for three or more years. A survey of 126 tenants who have remained in their homes that long shows they have significantly lower (by 71%) Medicaid reimbursements because of their access to outpatient and preventative health care. The program also has raised property values an average of 30% across measured communities and generated $72 million in economic activity statewide.

“The winning program shows us the unique approach Supportive Housing Pilots Initiative in Connecticut is taking to successfully address its local need for affordable housing,” says Stacey D. Stewart, president and CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation.

The program involves five state agencies and more than 40 community groups.

The initiative is one of seven programs nationwide receiving this year’s awards. Because these programs are models for government’s capacity to do good, and do it well, the $100,000 prize specifically supports dissemination to other jurisdictions.

The award is a joint effort of the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. It is administered in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government.